Why We Built ReRoute

By Jason Coffer I want you to imagine James. He’s just stepped out of a correctional facility after serving five years for a non-violent offense. In his hands, a small bag of belongings and a folder with resumes, a letter from his reentry counselor, and job applications he’s sent with no response. He’s done the work. But society still sees him through the lens of his record. James isn’t a statistic. He’s a father. A son. A man who wants a chance to prove he belongs. There are countless people in the world right now who are just like James - lost, helpless, abandoned. Why is it that people like James leave prison not with hope, but with barriers? Why are they constantly judged for a mistake they’ve already paid for? Because of stigma and misunderstanding, formerly incarcerated individuals face employment discrimination that keeps them from rebuilding their lives. Meanwhile, reentry organizations work tirelessly to help, but are often disconnected from employers who genuinely want to offer opportunities. Well, I believe it’s time to break those walls down and with ReRoute, we’re going to close that gap.

The Thought That Started it All

Before ReRoute was ReRoute, it was just an idea, a thought that lived in my head with no name, no plan of action, just a vision for a solution. I never once imagined it would grow into what it is today until I joined a social entrepreneurship program at Wharton Business School. That’s where I met Jackson and Derrick, my two future co-founders, though at the time, I had no clue. The program began with one question: “What is Social Entrepreneurship?” In short, it’s building a business with a mission for social change. When the time came to pitch a venture idea, that vague thought suddenly began to take shape. And that’s how the Dream Team – Jackson, Derrick, and I was born. We started fleshing out the concept in a small breakout room, ideas flying across a whiteboard. The question “What should we call it?” lingered over us until someone blurted out ReRoute, and the word instantly lit up the room.

From Vision to Action

Over the next two weeks, we poured everything into building what we believed could be a gamechanger. Derrick, our business strategist, challenged us to think about how to approach the market and developed our business model. Jackson, our marketer, brought creative energy shaping our brand, voice, and spreading awareness for our mission. And me, the tech guy, focused on what our platform would actually do and how it could scale. Together, our combined skills and passion began shaping ReRoute into the system it is today, alongside countless mentors and supporters who believed in our mission from the start.

Our Mission Today

ReRoute was built to reconnect communities, restore trust, and create fair access to opportunity. It’s more than a platform, it’s a movement to prove that people are more than their past. Every feature, every design, every partnership we create serves one goal: to ReRoute lives toward purpose, progress, and possibility.

Join the Cause

Now that you know our story, we want to hear yours. Here at ReRoute we believe everyone deserves a second chance, and we’re committed to turning that belief into action. We will do all we can to help make our dreams, your reality. Whether you’ve been justice-impacted, are a fair-chance employer, represent an organization fighting for equity, or simply want to help create change – let’s work together. Together, we can ReBuild the lives of returning citizens, ReClaim their place in society, and ReRoute their future toward hope, dignity, and opportunity.